For a very long time beef has put Keady on the map, but ask any of the "pie ladies" and they will tell you what really draws the crowds to the Keady Beef Barbecue each year.
"Our pie was a ticket seller," said Grace Ruhl, who doesn't remember missing a single barbecue in the 50 years it has been held. "They were homemade pies and people came for them."
Ruhl was once again at the pie table before the barbecue on Saturday where she chatted with another long-time "pie lady" Eileen Beckett, as others prepared for the crowds that would soon arrive for the event. In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the barbecue, this year a homecoming was held in conjunction with the barbecue. Attractions included an antique tractor display, live and silent auctions, memorabilia and history displays and children's activities. A dance in the evening was to feature the music of Behind Bars and Rewired.
Beckett said they used to make a lot of pies to serve the masses.
"I know I made eight pies when I started," she said.
Many in the community would make the pies at their homes and then bring them to the barbecue.
"You would be surprised how fast they would go," said Beckett. "They had pecan pie there and that would always go just like that."
While Beckett said she spent most of her time cutting pies at the barbecue, Ruhl also spent time working the tables.
"We used to serve the food. It wasn't self-serve," said Ruhl. "Eventually we thought, why can't people lift their own spoon of beans or pick up their own potato, so that changed."
Ruhl said one year they cut pies in an old dressing room and it was a bit of an adventure getting them to the waiting public.
"They put the sand down on top of the pipes. The floor wasn't cemented," said Ruhl. "We dug our way through sand carrying all these pies from the room to way over yonder."
Ruhl said the barbecue has always been a very popular event and they would prepare enough food to serve about 1,000 people.
"They would line up out the door, clean out to the concession road," said Ruhl.
Before the barbecue was held there was a popular garden party in Keady, but Ruhl said once the barbecue started up it didn't happen anymore.
Ruhl said a beef barbecue was a natural choice for the community after the Keady Livestock Market was established in what was the old church shed.
In the early years the barbecue would always sell out, but in recent years the crowds haven't been as big. Ruhl said while she believes Keady was one of the first to hold a large community beef barbecue, others have since popped up around the area.
"We had a barbecue and got it working, so others said, 'well why don't we do that,'" said Ruhl. "There seemed to be more competition, I guess you would call it."
Organizers were hoping the event would again attract 1,000 people like it once did, but those estimates may have been a little low as the 850-ticket barbecue was a sellout, with even more expected for the other activities and the dance in the evening.
Barbecue chairman Jeff Hamilton said he couldn't believe the way the people got behind the event.
"We sold out and I that is something I said probably couldn't happen, so they made a liar out of me," said Hamilton. "That is awesome and a great problem to have."
Hamilton said in recent years they had been feeding about 400 people at the barbecue, so this year they doubled the food in anticipation of the larger crowds.
The annual barbecue is a major fundraiser the Keady Community Centre board of management does each year to support minor sports in the community.
The decided to "kick it into high gear" this year for the 50th and include the extra events and displays.
"The Keady Historical Society really outdid themselves and did a great display," said Hamilton. "Local people and business really got behind it and gave lots of donations. We have got a couple great event sponsors who helped get this off the ground."
Aileen Henderson hadn't been back to Keady since she moved to Vancouver three years ago, but decided to come back for the 50th.
"It was a great opportunity to come back and see everyone in the community," said Henderson. "I was born and raised here, it holds a lot of ties for me, it is a great tight-knit community and everyone is very friendly and here to help. As soon as you need a hand they are there for you."
Henderson herself was there to lend a helping hand as she re-painted a sign at the front of the community centre.
"It was a big project and I had the free time, so I decided to do it," said Henderson.